African violet plant named Decennie

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Decennie which is a sport of Gisela, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 056,388. Decennie is characterized its single, dark purplish pink flowers with wavy, frilled edges; strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center to form a tight bouquet above the leaves; medium green, slightly serrated leaves, profuse flowering, vigorous growth habit, flowering 9-10 weeks after potting, and its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar named Decennie.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation M/I 11/16, and is a sport of Gisela,disclosed in my pending U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 056,388.Decennie is similar in all essential respects to Gisela except for itsdark purplish pink flower color.

Decennie was discovered in a flowering block of the parent cultivarGisela, and subsequently selected. Asexual reproduction of the newcultivar by leaf cutting, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany,has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

Decennie has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville, Tenn. undergreenhouse conditions which closely approximate those generally used incommercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Decennie, which in combination distinguishthis African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Strong, upright flower stems curving slightly toward the center.

(2) Violet-shaped, dark purplish pink flowers with lighter pink wavy,frilled edges.

(3) Profuse flowering.

(4) Each plant carries 8-10 and more upright flower stems, each of whichcarries 5-8 and more flowers.

(5) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(6) Vigorous grower.

(7) First flash of flowers appears 9-10 weeks after potting and forms atight bouquet above the leaves.

(8) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after potting.

(9) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(10) Medium green, round to heart-shaped leaves.

(11) After maturity the flowers dry off and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar. The colors appearing in the photograph are astrue as possible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical Classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. Decennie.

Parentage: Sport of Gisela, disclosed in U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 056,388.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 9 cm to 11 cm tall when grown in pots, and approximately23-26 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Round or heart-shaped. Diameter: 60-75 mm.Texture: Velvety. Aspect: Shiny, hairy. Veins: Upperside: visible;underside: well pronounced, light green and shiny; purplish in betweenthe veins. Color (upperside): Yellow-Green Group 147 between A and B.Color (underside): Greyed-Green Group 194 between C and D. Petiole:Strong upright, light green with purplish brown touch, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Bell-shaped, 7-8 mm just before opening, light greenwith purplish touch. Sepals: Five (5). Color: Green with browish touch.Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle:Character: Strong upright, hairy. Color: Purplish brown. Individualflowers: Size: 45-50 mm. Shape: Single violet-shaped (3 large and 2small petals) with wavy and frilled edges. Color (upperside): PurpleGroup 78 between A and B, in the center a touch of Red-Purple Group 59C. The flowers appearing at the top and slightly to the right of centerin the photograph very closely depict flower color. There are a fewflowers that appear more red than the stated color values, but that isdue to imperfections in the photographic process. Under coolertemperature and more intensive lighting, the color tends to intensify.Color (underside): Purple Group 78 between B and C. Borne: Each flowerstem carries 5-8 and more flowers on strong, upright peduncles that arefree standing above the leaves, thereby forming a compact bouquet.Flowering habit: Flowers 9-10 weeks after potting.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowish greenwith purplish traces 5 mm long. Pollen color: Yellow Group 7 A. Styles:7-8 mm long, purplish red, base of ovary light green and hairy. Roots:Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownish whenolder.

Disease resistance: Good.

General observations: Decennie is a very attractive, vigorous growerwith dark purplish pink flowers contrasting nicely with the brightyellow anthers. Each of the 8-10 and more flowers stems carries 5-8 andmore single, violet-shaped flowers with wavy, frilled edges. The coloris less intensive around the edge. The flowers are long-lasting andnon-dropping and the seed capsule pushes slightly through. A tightbouquet of flowers free standing above the medium green, slightlyserrated leaves develops after approximately 9-10 weeks.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet namedDecennie, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterizedby its single, dark purplish pink flowers with wavy, frilled edges;strong, upright flower stems that curve slightly toward the center toform a tight bouquet above the leaves; medium green, slightly serratedleaves; profuse flowering, vigorous growth habit, flowering 9-10 weeksafter potting, and its long-lasting and non-dropping flowers.